shaving
B2Neutral to informal
Definition
Meaning
The action of removing hair, especially from the face or legs, using a razor or similar tool; also, a thin slice cut off from a surface.
Can refer to the result of the act (e.g., shaving cream, shaving brush), the waste material produced (wood shavings), or figuratively, to a very thin or narrow margin or piece.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a verbal noun (gerund) from 'to shave.' As a countable noun ('a shaving'), it almost exclusively refers to a thin piece of material (like wood or metal) and is more technical.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The core meaning is identical. 'Shavings' (plural) for small pieces of material is slightly more common in UK English for craft/DIY contexts.
Connotations
Neutral in both. The phrase 'a close shave' (a narrow escape) is equally common and idiomatic in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in AmE for personal grooming contexts due to marketing of products (e.g., 'shaving gel').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Verb] + shaving (He started shaving)[Adjective] + shaving (daily shaving)[Noun] + of + shaving (a pile of shavings)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a close shave (a narrow escape)”
- “shave off (to reduce by a small amount)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In retail, refers to grooming products category.
Academic
In engineering/materials science, refers to waste material from machining (metal shavings).
Everyday
Primarily the act of facial/body hair removal.
Technical
A machining or woodworking process that produces thin waste strips.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He was shaving in the bath when the phone rang.
- I need to shave before the job interview.
American English
- He's shaving his head for charity.
- I shaved my legs this morning.
adjective
British English
- He bought a new shaving brush.
- There's shaving foam on the mirror.
American English
- He has a shaving kit in his dopp bag.
- I need a shaving cream for sensitive skin.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My dad does his shaving every morning.
- The floor was covered in wood shavings.
- Wet shaving gives a closer result than an electric razor.
- He cut himself while shaving.
- The mechanic found metal shavings in the oil, indicating engine wear.
- She prefers shaving her legs with a gel to avoid irritation.
- The sculptor carefully removed fine shavings of marble to reveal the form beneath.
- The government's new policy was a close shave, passing by just one vote.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'SHAVING' as 'SHAVE-ing' – the ongoing action of using a SHAVE.
Conceptual Metaphor
REDUCTION IS SHAVING (e.g., 'shaving seconds off a record', 'shaving costs').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid directly translating 'бритьё' as 'shaving' for the tool itself – that's 'a razor'. 'Shaving' is the action or the result.
- Don't confuse 'wood shavings' (опилки, стружка) with 'sawdust' (мелкие опилки).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'shaving' as a countable noun for the act (*'I had two shavings today') – instead, 'I shaved twice'.
- Misspelling as 'shaveing'.
- Confusing 'shaving cream' (for beards/legs) with 'shaving foam' (lighter, aerated).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would 'shavings' most likely be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While often facial (beards), it applies to removing hair from any body part (legs, armpits, head). It also means thin slices of material like wood.
Shaving cream is thicker, often applied with a brush. Shaving foam comes from a can, is lighter and aerated. 'Gel' is another common variant.
Yes, but only when referring to thin pieces of material (e.g., 'a pile of wood shavings'). The act of hair removal is uncountable.
It means a narrow escape from danger or failure. It originates from the idea of a razor passing very close to the skin without cutting it.